Thursday, July 12, 2012

A Getaway to Rome, Italy

Join us this summer as we take a little virtual road trip, visiting some fun spots across the world!

It's not very often that I get an offer to write about European vacations, so when Kristin from Two Canoli offered to tell us all about Rome, I jumped on it!! She does an excellent job showing us why it is a wonderful place to take the family......

Familgia a Roma

Rome is perfect for family trips

Rome: one of
the most beautiful and scenic cities in the world, with cuisine to match. There are plenty of opportunities
to eat and photograph your way through the city and surrounding areas, and
families around the world flock to Rome for an Italian experience like no
other.

First things first:
find a hotel that works for you.
Especially with older children and teenagers, there is a fantastic
boutique hotel with a sparkling pool within walking distance to Vatican City (http://grandhotelgianicolo.it/). The area of Gianicolo is quiet,
yet easy to navigate and find your way to other spots in the city. Yes, you can stay closer to some of the main
attractions, but this hotel is safe and spotless, with panoramic views of the
city at the top of the hill.
They also offer an American buffet breakfast, which is key if you have
picky eaters.

American expat Wendy Holloway runs a quaint B&B (bed and
breakfast) just 20 minutes outside of Rome called Flavor of Italy (http://flavorofitalybb.com/). The countryside looks like
the Tuscany region as you approach Flavor of Italy, and the inn has a beautiful
outdoor pool. She creates
delicious native Italian dishes, and will also teach custom cooking classes to
you and your family and friends.
Everyone is issued an apron, and Wendy dispatches orders quickly and
efficiently; meals are served inside and outdoors on the terrace on the
red-checked tablecloths of your Lady and the Tramp dreams.

And the attractions…. Where to begin? Grab a gelato and go.

1)Wear very, very
comfortable shoes. The streets are
cobbled and difficult to navigate if you have even the smallest kitten
heel. Wear tennis shoes or sandals
made for heavy walking.

2)Hold onto your pocketbook! Gypsies are well-trained here and count on your distraction.
Keep the zipper toward the front so you can keep your eyes on it. Do NOT keep your wallet in your back pocket. Especially if you go in and out of
Termini (the train station) which is notorious for being the roughest part of town for tourists.

3)Cabs aren’t
always easy to find. If you can
get to a large piazza, they are almost always nearby. When you’re eating dinner, ask the water to call you a taxi. “Posso chiamarmi una tassi?”

4)Learn a few
phrases in Italian and you’ll be fine – most people speak even a little
English.

g.Ask in advance
if you want to use a credit card, especially at a restaurant. Say “Posso pagare
con carta di credito?” (Can I pay with credit card?) or “Accettate la carta di
credito?” (Do you accept credit cards?). Write this down on a card and hand it
to the waiter if you’re not confident with your Italian. They will say “Si” or “No”.

5)Churches with
the most beautiful art I have ever seen from Michealangelo, Bernini and
Corvaggio:

f.Santa Maria
Maggiore, near the train station (Termini) is really beautiful – one of the
oldest and most beautiful in Rome overall

6)Shopping:

a.Castel Romano (Designer
outlets) if you have an extra day – it’s a 40 minute free shuttle from Piazza
della Repubblica: Versace, Dolce
& Gabbana, Valentino (the least expensive thing I saw was a purse on sale
for 350 Euros), La Perla, etc.
This outlet mall is out in the middle of nowhere outside Rome. http://www.mcarthurglen.it/castelromano/en

b.From Piazza
della Repubblica, walk down Via Nazionale for many, many local shops. Great clothing! (Remember that most clothing in Rome
runs quite small)

c.Via del Corso
and Via del Tritone, near the Fontane del Tritone by Bernini, also have
reasonably-priced shopping

d.Near the
Spanish steps, on Via Condotti, you’ll find boutique stores by Prada, Louis
Vuitton, and Valentino. Expensive
but fun to look at! Lots of shops
in this area.

7)Don’t miss:

a.Fontana di
Trevi, especially after dusk, when it’s lit. Very crowded during the day.

g.The Piazza
Navona any time – artists throughout the square painting various scenes.

h.On my way to
the Piazza del Popolo from the Vatican and Castel Sant’Angelo. I came upon an open-air market between
the Castel and Palazzo di Giustizia, along the river on Lungotevere Castello.

8)Eating out

a.Tipping – look
for the words “servizio” or “servizio e pane” – service, or service and bread –
to see if you’re already paying the tip.
Typically, 10% is standard if you have good service, up to 15% if you
really loved your waiter.

b.Have gelato at
Blue Ice near the Palazzo Farnese – there are a few of them in Campo de Fiori,
near Piazza Navona

c.Have Prosecco
anywhere!

d.Have dinner at Pierluigi at Piazza de
Ricci 144. It’s off Via
Monserrato, near Piazza Farnese. Skip dessert here and get a gelato at Blue Ice, near
the Palazzo Farnese, just a quick walk away.

e.Near the Colosseum,
we had a surprisingly good dinner.
(Surprising because it’s in a very touristy area.) But the gnocchi and rigatoni
all’amatriciana (pasta tubes with tomatoes, bacon, and onion – very standard)
were very good.

f.There is a
place that has a wonderful atmosphere and is recommended in the guidebooks called
Hosteria della Campidoglio at Via dei Fienili, 56. It’s beautiful and the food is passable. Not the greatest food I had, but not
the worst (that dubious honor went to L’Angoletto at Piazza Rondandini near the
Pantheon).

g.Speaking of the
Pantheon, there is a great café there right in front of the ancient building
with a wonderful view. Stop and
get a cappuccino or gelato, depending on the time of day.

9)The Vatican
City

a.We decided to
hit the Sistene Chapel (via the museum, which you must go through to get to) at
about 10:30 AM on a Saturday and got through the line in about 20 minutes, no
problem. At lunch, we sat next to
a Canadian couple who had gotten in line at 8:30 and waited for two hours. All the tour groups will be coming in early,
so don’t do it.

b.The Sistene
Chapel is very crowded and felt like a cattle call all the way in. But still, you must see it and it’s
amazing to see it in person. Don’t
use flash in the chapel, although some tacky tourists will snap away, flashes
popping.

c.I toured the
Basilica Sunday afternoon at about 2 PM and got right in. You must wear Capri pants or skirts at
or below the knee, and your shoulders must be covered. If it’s hot, just wear a scarf around
your shoulders and you’ll be good to go.
They sell those all around the Vatican.

d.The cupola is
magnificent but be VERY sure you are not claustrophobic or afraid of heights
before undertaking the climb. You
can take an elevator to the mid-level and see into the dome for 7 Euro, or you
can spend 5 Euro and walk up the 200+ steps. Either way, in order to get to the very top, there is no
elevator and you will walk another 320 steps on very, very small spiral
staircases. And you can’t change
your mind mid-way – there is only one way up and one down. I don’t get claustrophobic, typically,
and I had to take some deep breaths.

e.Don’t miss Michaelangelo’s
Pieta on the right side of the Basilica itself when you walk in.

f.There is a very
nice store that sells rosary beads, mosaic jewelry, and all kinds of trinkets called
Mondo Cattolico at Piazza Pio XII, 12.
The awning reads “Articoli Religiosi”. Closed on Sunday.
However, Gioello Religioso is at Piazza Pio XII 8, just around the
corner, and it’s almost as good.
Open on Sunday.

IN BOCCA AL LUPO! (The Italian way to say “Good Luck!”)

Kristin is a mother of a sweet 2-year-old boy and wife to a 6th-generation Texan, living in Austin, Texas. Loves: family, airplanes, airports, classic cars, sports, Italy, and dessert; not necessarily in that order. You can reach her via Twitter @AustinKVS or via her bloghttp://www.twocannoli.com

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Disclaimer: I am not a professional writer, researcher, or photographer. I just love vacationing and love to hear all about it.
I will be posting information that is subject to change (hours, prices, etc.), so don't hold it against me if something changes.